Preface#
One of the purposes of this trip is to open a bank account. I won't elaborate on the account opening process, as detailed tutorials can be found on Google or Xiaohongshu. I went to the branch in Tin Shui Wai; both Bank of China and HSBC do not require appointments, although I made an appointment with Bank of China in advance, and the experience was very good. The account opening process at HSBC is faster.
I encountered a small issue with the account opening at Zhong An. Although it only requires online operations, there is a verification of geographic location in the subsequent steps. Tin Shui Wai is too remote and not within the designated area, so I completed it when I was closer to the city center.
DAY ONE#
After opening accounts at Bank of China and HSBC, I started wandering aimlessly. Of course, I had read many posts on Xiaohongshu before coming, and most of the common issues were covered, which was very practical.
I walked around the Yau Tsim Mong area for a day. During lunch, I tried to speak some Cantonese I learned on Duolingo, but the person said they couldn't understand me 😅, so I didn't speak again after that.
DAY TWO#
After taking the Central escalator for a while, the sign at the end indicated that it would take about 25 minutes to walk up to Mid-Levels. After hesitating for a while, I decided to walk up. By the time I reached the cable car station on the mountain, I was too tired to walk anymore, but the cable car ride down only took a short while. Since the hotel was quite far away, I had a quick bite and continued to walk aimlessly down the mountain. I originally planned to watch a movie that hasn't been released in mainland China yet—"The Heron and the Boy," but after walking over 20,000 steps that day, I chose to lie down early.
Epilogue#
In Hong Kong, aside from the crowded streets in the city center and the prices being significantly higher than in mainland China, the other experiences were great. I could access the internet normally, and the people I encountered were very polite.
I still hope to explore more within the limited time, weaving through the intersecting roads without stopping, as if commuting in a different place. I can't do that next time.
Additionally, I didn't take out my camera much in crowded places, even though I am trying to change this trait and be more spontaneous and generous; however, the results have been minimal.